Toy



April 10, 1934. E. w. cRulKsHANK 1,954,040

TOY

Filed March 20, 1933 ,iQ/ig. Z.

,Ejgdf 54 Bg f 'n Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED `siui'rlis PATENT :lorries i This invention relates to a toy, one of the obi" jects .being to provide a simple and attractive toy i utilizing dancing figures which can be actuated by the movement of a tapping bar.

It is another object of the invention to provide a toy which, during the dancing movement of the figures, can be tilted or rocked laterally so as to cause the figures to swing to the right or to th left while being jogged.

Another object is to provide a toy in which the dancing figures can be arranged either to face the operator or in the opposite direction while in use.

Another object is to mount the heads of the figures in a novel manner whereby they are free to move relative to the body portions of the figures. A still further object is to provide a toy oi this character which can be knocked down for convenience in packaging.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consistsin certain novel details of con struction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing: Y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy,

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section through a portion of the base taken on the line 4--4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the jointed connections of a limb of one of the iigures.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a portion of one of the figures showing its connection with oneof its supports.

Figure 7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing a modified form of sup- ,l 4..5 port.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of another form of support.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a base of any suitable size and 59 proportions and which is formed preferably of :the base l attached' to a tapping platform or board 7 which mit the base and its tongue to be rocked laterally atwillv Agyoke 5 or the like is secured on the base 1 adjacent to'its center and' constitutes a holder and guidev for a tapping bar 6 which extends loosely therethrough and bears downwardly on the' base. One end of the tapping bar overlies and tongue 2 while the other end is is yieldingly supported by resilient wires 8. Each of these wires, at one end, is Yinserted into one edge of the tapping board or platform 7 while the other end or" each wire 8 is inserted into a bore 9 in the edge of platform 1. These wires serve to support the tapping board or platform '7 normally in a predetermined position and it will be understood that by pressing on that portion of the bar 6 overhanging the tongue 2 the tapping board or platforr'n'7 'can be raised.V By tapping on this end portion of the bar 6 with the ngers, an intermittent up and down movement of the tap- -ping board 7` will be produced.

Arranged above the tapping board are two figures indicated generally at 10 each of which in'- vcludes a body 11 provided at its upper end with side shoulders 12. A central recess 13 extends into each of the body portions at the upper end thereof and has a small bore extending Vdownwardly `into the body therefrom. Fitted snugly .in this bore is one end portion of a resilient pin 15 the upper end portion of which is pivotally engaged by the neck 16 of the head 17; The neck the respective portions of the figure so as to hold them properly assembled but capable of free relative swinging movement.

Leg sections 21 are arranged below the body 1l adapted'to'reston atable or the like so as to perand each leg section has a foot section 22 asso- L ciated therewith. These sections are all joined together and to the body 11 by inter-litting links such as shown in Figure 5, these particularly being indicated at 23.

A socket member is secured to the back of each body 11 adjacent to the center thereof as shown at 24 and below this socket member is located an eye 25.

Each of the two dancing figures herein described is adapted to be supported by a wire 26 which, as shown particularly in Figure 4, is cut crimped to form a laterally extending stop 27.

Bores 28 are extended into the base l adjacent to the bores 9 and each of them has an enlargement 29. The ends of the wires 26 are adapted to be inserted into the bores 28 until the stops 27 become seated within the enlargements 29 of the recesses. Thus the wires will be properly supported and, at the same time, will be held against rotation relative to the base l..

Each supporting wire 26 extends toward the tapping board 7 and is then offset downwardly as at 30. rIhe offset portions of the two wires merge into upwardly extending portions 31 which extend back of the tapping board 7 and the gures thereon and terminate in arms 32 which extend toward the figures and merge into pivot ngers or pintles 33 seated in the eyes 25 and socket members 24. Thus the two gures are supported above the tapping board 7 with the Vfoot sections 22 contacting lightly with the tapping board under normal conditions. The body 11 of each gure can be supported at any desired angle, this depending upon the angle of each pintle 33 relative to its arm 32.

As the supporting wires 26 extend under and are spaced from the tapping board 7 they do not intertere with the up and down movement of said board when actuated by the bar 6.

If desired, and as shown in Figure 6, the supporting wires 34 can be extended upwardly between the base l and tapping board 7 so that the pintles 35 carried by the arms 36 thereof can support the figures with their backs toward the operator.

In order to make the toy changeable so that the gures can be supported either in the position shown in Figure 1 or in the position shown in Figure 6 the supporting wires 37 can each be provided with an enlarged or flattened portion 38 seated in a coupling sleeve 39. Interchangeable sections 40 and 41 each having an enlargement or flattened portion 42 can be joined to the wires 37 by inserting the portions 42 in the sleeves 39.

The toy can be used in a number of different ways. It can be held in the hand by grasping the tongue 2 or it can be mounted on a supporting surface as heretofore explained. While the tapping strip or bar 6 is being actuated the toy can be swung or rocked laterally. Each time the bar 6 is actuated the tapping board or platform 7 strikes upwardly against the foot sections 22, thereby causing the legs of the figures to flex and to assume various grotesque positions. At the same time the arms will also ilex and the body 11 will swing upon the pintles supporting them. The two gures will swing and act substantially in unison and will assume many amusing poses which can be changed by manipulating the tapping bar 6 and the base l as explained.

For convenience in packing, the supporting wires can be disengaged from the base and the figures can be disengaged from the pintles. rIhe resilient wires 8 carrying the tapping board 7 can also be disengaged from the base.

It will be noted that the entire device is very simple in construction, that the parts can be easily assembled or disconnected, and that they will not readily get out of order.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy including a base, means for supporting the base for lateral swinging, a tapping board resiliently connected to and movable with the base, a supporting member carried by the base,'a pintle carried thereby and supported above the tapping board, and an articulated figure supported by and mounted to swing upon the pintle above and in contact with the tapping board.

2. A toy including a base movably mounted, a tapping board resiliently connected to the base, a supporting wire extending from the base, cooperating means on the wire and base for holding the wire against rotation relative to the base, a j

pintle carried by the wire and supported thereby above the tapping board, a tapping bar extending from the tapping board and movably supported above the base, and an articulated figure supported by and mounted to swing upon the pintle above and in contact with the tapping board.

3. A toy including a base movably mounted., a tapping board resiliently connected to the base, a tapping bar extending from the ,tappingv board and overlying and movable relative to the base,

a jointed supporting wire carried by the base and l and a pair of articulated gures supported above and in contact with the tapping board for lateral swinging movement, each gure including a body, jointed limbs suspendedltherefrom, a pin adjustable longitudinally within the body, and a head supported for swinging movement upon the pin and extending above the body.

ERNEST W. CRUIKSHANK. 

